Cotton-gin



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet l.

F. H. RICHARDS.

COTTON GIN.

No. 306,105. Patentqd 001]. v, 1884.

i ,K b [I Witnesses Znveniqn- 4 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

F. HQ RICHARDS.

COTTON GIN.

Patented 001;. 7, 1884.

SccZion in Zi7 ze CC.

I nvenior .Wiin asses 0. 62am I I PETER& Pinto-Lithographer. wad-In ram 9. C

(No Model.) Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

F. H. RICHARDS.

GOTTON GIN.

Patented 001;. 7, 1884.

Wiinesses 1 l nvenio r;

N. PETERS. PhqloLxlhugnphur. Wnhington. O. C

mm STATES;

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

COTTON-GIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 306,105, dated October 7, .1884.

l Application filed January 14, (No model.)

new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Grins,

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of cotton-gins known as rollergins, and it con sists of a new and improved doctor-knife, and in combinations of mechanism hereinafter described and claimed. 1

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of that end thereof at the right hand in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a partial section on line a a, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is aplan view of a similar machine, having the doctorknife situated in a different position therein. Fig. 6 is an elevation of that end of the same at the right hand in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another similar machine, having my improveddoctor-knife constructed in a different manner from those in the preceding figures. Fig. Sis an elevation of that end of the Same at the right hand in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a part of the doctor-knife in Figs. 7 and 8 somewhat enlarged. Fig. 10 is a partial section on line b b, Fig. 7. Fig. 11 shows a modified form of the endless doctor-knife.

Similarletters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, A is the frame of the machine, having bearings adapted to carry the several operative parts, and is shown as made integral. The principle driving-shaft S is carried in bearings B and B, and carries three pinions, G, G, and G, of

which the first drives an endless doctor-knife,

K, the second drives the friction-roll R, and the third drives the seed-clearer, which, in the present instance, is an endless one, C. This seed-clearer is carried upon two bandwheels, 1? and P", which are carried by shafts S and S running, respectively, in bearings B and B The former shaft S carries the gear-wheel G gearing with the aforesaid pinion G. The friction-roller B, of the usual description, is carried upon a shaft, S, which .parts 0, B, and K from one pulley, because each of those. parts may be driven by an independent means equally well.

The seed-clearer G-is preferably a flexible steel band, such as previously used in this kind of roller-gins, and is to be run in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3. The proper operation of the friction-roll and my improved doctor-knife does not require this kind of seed-clearer, and the old form of a vertically-reciprocating one may be used there with, but owing to the greater efficiency of the former, I greatly prefer it. The doctorknife I also prefer to be of the form of an end I Y less baud, arranged and operated substantially as shown. It is supported and held against the roll R by means of a part, A, of the frame, (see Fig-4,) suitably constructed therefor. The upper edge of this knife is preferably formed undulating, substantially as shown, for the purpose of increasing its efficiency to roll over the seeds during the ginning operation, and thus enable the seedclearer to beat them off with greater facility.

During the operation of the machine, when a tuft of cotton fiber is drawn down between the friction-roll and the doctor-knife at a low point of the undulations of the latter, the motion of the knife slides the high part of said undulations over the said tuft, thereby enabling the roll to act more effectually to draw in the fiber.

' I prefer that the driving mechanism of the machine shall be so constructed as to drive the doctor-knife about one-sixteenth as fast as the surface of the friction-roll, while the seedclearer may travel about ten times as fast as the latter but these proportions may be greatly varied. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the doctor-knife runs each side of the friction-roll; but this is not necessary. By a suitable modification of the frame and gearing it may be arranged to run each side of the seed-clearer, band-wheel, shafts S and S Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan and end view of a machine having this knife so arranged, but in other respects substantially the same as the machine first described, as indicated by the reference-letters.

In Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 I have illustrated both another arrangement and another construction of the endless doctor-knife. It is therein formed of sections K, jointedly con nected by means of links K, preferably on each side thereof, and carriedupon two bandwheels adapted therefor, revolving in vertical planes below theseed-clearer. I do not limit myself to such a knife formed of any particular kind of sections, nor to these sections joined together by any particular means, as neither of these particulars is an essential part of my invention. This form of machineis also substantially the same as that one first described, as indicated by the reference-letters, the frame and gearing being of course somewhat modified. I have thus far in my present application confined the description of my improved doctor-knife to such as have either the form of an endless flexible band or a continuous chain formed of sections jointedly con nected, substantially as shown, and adapted to have a continuous motion in a fixed circuit, which consists of two semicircular and two straight sections. I do not limit myself to a doctor-knife adapted to move only in that -kind of a fixed circuit, and in Fig. 11 I have illustrated one adapted to have a continuous motion in a circular circuit, the friction-roll being made concave, as shown, to coincide therewith. I do not claim herein this particular form, but have described and claimed the same in separate applications filed January 14, 1884, Nos. 117,574, 117,575, and 117,576, to which reference may be had.

thereby, and delivered from the machine in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention I claim- 7 1. In acotton-gin, in combination, an endless doctor-knife adapted to have a motion in a fixed circuit, and means for imparting motion to said knife in said circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a cotton-gin, in combination, an endless doctor-knife having an undulating edge and adapted to have a motion in a fixed circuit, and means for imparting motion to said knife in said circuit, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-gin, an endless doctor-knife, substantially as described.

,4. In a cotton-gin, a doctor-knife formed of an endless flexible band, substantially as described.

5. In a cotton-gin, in combination, a friction-roll, It, an endless doctor-knife, K, and a suitable support or part, A, for said knife.

6. In a cotton-gin, a frame-work having a support or part, A, a friction-roll, an endless doctor-knife, and aseed-clearer, combined and operating substantially as described.

7. In a cotton-gin, a suitable frame-work, a friction-roll, an endless doctor-knife, a suitable seed-clearer, a driving-shaft, and suitable operative mechanism, all combined substantially as described.

- FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. IVitnesses:

O. O. PALMER,

H. V. FAULKNER. 

